SCCPSS bus drivers frustrated over pay issues

We are learning more about the frustration some Savannah-Chatham Public School System employees are feeling: Shortened hours on their paychecks.

The school system is aware, and it is taking drastic steps to correct the problem new transportation service drivers are facing.

Being shorted on paychecks, or not receiving them at all, was an issue brought to our attention this week by drivers for the school system.

While they didn't want to go on camera, they wanted us to know and to look for answers. So Tuesday, I spoke to Chief Operations Officer Vanessa Miller-Kaigler, who says they're still working toward their commitment to bus drivers, to make sure they are compensated and not waiting on paychecks.

Miller-Kaigler says the district is going through some growing pains with the time management system, Kronos, and is actually working to transition out of it halfway through the year.

So in the meantime, the district is asking drivers having issues with their payroll to immediately bring it to their attention.

"We take it just that serious. If you come and say well, Vanessa, I'm missing twenty hours, that's serious to us. So we look at it, we verify. Our payroll team is committed to it. So they worked this weekend to make sure that they could have those checks ready for this week,” said Miller-Kaigler.

The school district is switching to the Zonar time management system eventually, which will allow them to measure time and attendance as well as a pre-check and post-check evaluation.

They are also bringing on two full-time payroll employees to the office on Interchange to help mitigate problems.